Church hosts annual Kermes

Community staple — The iconic St. Benedict Catholic Church is a mainstay in the Resaca City, and so too is the church’s annual kermes, which is slated for this Saturday, Sept. 6, on church grounds. (San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)

By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the NEWS

St. Benedict Catholic Church invites the community to its annual Kermes on Saturday, September 6, from 6 to 11 p.m. at 351 S. Bowie Street. The kermes, a traditional church bazaar, has been a long-standing celebration of faith and community in San Benito.

St. Benedict has been part of the city’s story for over a century. The first church was built in 1910 as a small wooden mission and became its own parish in 1912.

After a fire destroyed the original structure in 1923, parishioners came together to construct the brick church that still stands today, completed in 1925.

Fr. Genaro Garza III, parish priest, said, “St. Benedict has not only been a place of worship but also a gathering space where families mark life’s most important moments: baptisms, weddings, funerals, and countless celebrations of faith. It has always been at the heart of the community, a symbol of resilience and unity.”

When asked about the kermes tradition, Fr. Garza III said, “Since I’ve only just recently been assigned as parish priest, I don’t yet know exactly how far back the kermes tradition goes, but it is clear that it has long been a cherished event for St. Benedict and the wider San Benito community.”

He went on to add, “The festival has brought together not only our parishioners but also friends and families from the surrounding areas. What may have begun as a simple gathering with food and music has grown into one of the highlights of our parish calendar.”

“This year’s celebration is significant, as it will be the first kermes we have been able to host since the COVID pandemic. More than just a fundraiser, it is a joyful celebration of faith and culture that allows our community to reconnect and to strengthen the bonds that make St. Benedict’s such an important presence in San Benito and beyond,” he remarked.

Gilbert De La Fuente, kermes coordinator, reflected on the community aspect of the event: “The families from past generations and present have always enjoyed organizing this annual event. Family members and the community often make it a family tradition to attend the kermes, showing their kids how the community gathered, building lifetime memories growing up in San Benito.”

He also highlighted the festival’s historical roots: “Being that St. Benedict was the first Catholic Church built in San Benito, it brought many small surrounding communities together. Culture and traditions were also part of the kermes, focusing on small farming communities gathering at the parish to celebrate the arrival of the cotton season. The kermes was called the ‘Cotton Festival’ for many years. The theme for this year’s kermes is ‘Dies y Seis de Septiembre.’”

Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of traditional foods, including tacos, gorditas, corn in a cup, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, pickles, and aguas frescas.

Activities for all ages include an arcade, duck gallery, cake walk, face painting, lollipop tree, basketball throwing, and live music performed by the San Benito High School Conjunto Band and “Ramon Lucio Y Conjunto Dominante.”

A highlight of the kermes is the raffle, which has become a significant part of the fundraiser. Prizes this year include a $5,000 Visa gift card for first place, $2,500 for second, $1,000 for third, and additional prizes ranging from $250 to $500.

The raffle helps support the church’s programs and events, making it an essential way for attendees to contribute while enjoying the festivities.

De La Fuente explained the preparation involved: “The church prepares at least one year in advance to prepare for food and game vendors, book live music, and, if possible, get the local school groups to participate and show their talents. Volunteers are very important and have different roles in setting up this event.”

He added, “(The event is about) Remembering the fun time they had and the memories they are taking with them, meeting up with friends and families, but most of all supporting their parish. (It’s also about) How the tradition of a small event like the kermes can bring new friends together and show a small community and their local parish coming together.”